Ultimate Camping Thread

I use a raincoat from Mont Bell. The water just beads up and rolls off. I paid 100 bucks for it at a local outdoor shop. Well worth the money.

 

How small do y'alls pack up though? I usually have to strap mine to the outside of my pack.

 

I just roll mine up since it is thin material and shove it in to any empty spaces (thats what he said). There have been times though for a longer trip that I strapped mine outside.

 

Haaa

 

Mine folds up into a sack that came with it. It's about 5"x5"x1".

 

my cabelas jacket stuffs into its own pocket

 

Just thought Id express my excitement for my upcoming backpacking trip. Gonna head out to Catalina Island next week, about 20 miles off the coast of CA and backpack ~54 miles in 4 days. Really looking forward to the R&R and outdoor freedom.

Anybody else completed any good trips lately?

 

hell yeah man! have fun and be safe! take some pics! I have heard that is a cool place to camp. I have a trip planned next month (maybe... school is kicking my ass hard) but other than that, I have one in June. Both down to the Big South Fork to hike some more of the John Muir Trail.

 

Nice. I'd like to hike the JMT this summer as well. I'm new to backpacking so I stay local but now that im comfortable in all kinds of solo backpacking I'd be up for a major trail like that. I'd like to climb whitney in August too

 

Have fun on Catalina. I'm from that neck of the woods, so pretty jealous. Going to be in LA this weekend too, but seeing family - so no camping.

Waiting to hear back on schools for the fall - if I get in, thinking about quiting my job and doing a hike-thru during the summer. Not sure where or when. For now, trying to get out to the AT section here in VA.

 

I sincerely hope if you find it, you share it with me! I'm also on a diet similar to that, called SCD. So I'm wheat, dairy, soy, gluten, and sugar free lol. I've made beef jerky and contemplated just packing lots of sardines and canned tuna, but it's hard to take all that extra weight. Freeze drying could be an option, but have you seen the price of a dryer? They start at $4k!

 

I understand completely...My last few trips have been compromised because of my diet. I used to backpack for multiple days but now I day hike. I did find this site, http://www.nitro-pak.com/products/food-types. If you check out meats or veggies by themselves, you can find some without any kind of extra ingredients. But, for example, the ground beef...it says it contains "beef flavoring" which could include god knows what. I'll write them an email to see if they ever take special orders, or if they could tell me what is included in that flavoring.

 

Oh wow, if you go to the actual Mountain House website, you can find bulk cans of meats and vegetables and click on nutrition, then explore even further to see if they contain anything for people with allergies...I'll still email just to be 100% but that could be a good option.

 

Shoot for high fat and protein items if you are going to be hiking a lot. I tend to go with a bag of pasta or rice, olive oil, can of tuna, and seasoning. Cook pasta, drain, add the rest, stir. Done. Weighs maybe 1lbs packed.

Of course, not sure how the gluten free diet plays into the pasta/rice part of it...

 

Just thought id share a quick review of my new "everything" jacket. Finally got tired of having 3 different jackets for the psychotic midwestern weather i live in, and found a great deal on steep and cheap for an outdoor research, pro shell. I figured this would give me everything i needed in a coat, completely waterproof, breathable, and perfect for layering.

First i would have to say that the way the jacket is cut takes some getting used to. it's tighter under the arms than anything i have owned before, but i have actually grown to like that over the last few weeks, it never bunches up and its never getting caught on anything, i think this is what they refer to as "athletic fit" I ended up getting a large, im 5'11" and about 205.

Cold weather this thing has been amazing. We had a great snap of -11 degrees with -30 windchills the other day, and i was stuck outside waiting for the train to take me to the airport. obviously its a shell, so layering matters, but all i had was a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, good headed sweatshirt, and the jacket, and it was perfect, the wind stop technology in this thing is great. can't wait to try it out on a ski hill.

was flying to phoenix for a wedding, so i also used it as a light coat when i got there, it was an outdoor wedding and it cooled off to around 45 that night. again, perfect coat, breathed enough to keep me from sweating under it while the sun was out, and it kept my date warm after she stole it from me.

So far my only complaint is the zipper can be difficult, but i figure thats expected in an exposed yet waterproof zipper, but its something im going to keep an eye on. I dont really see myself wearing any other coat for a long time.

My only recommendation is to watch the sizing, a large on me is perfect, if i layer it smart for cold weather, theres not a lot of room under it, but i dont think i would like the extra bulkiness of a larger size.

Price wise this thing was kind of crazy, but it is basically a top of the line shell without having to shell out an extra 50 for a brand name. i think retail was around $430, got it for just under $200

Overall, love the coat, never been happier with a jacket purchase.

Outdoor Research - mentor jacket

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/mens/jackets/shells/mentor-jacket-m-s.html

 

That sounds delicious!